Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-02-26
The Seven Wonders of the World.

Grandpa" said Irwin, as they were
sitting by the open CRATE one winter
evening. grandpa, will You please tell
me about the Seven Wonders of the
World?' Our teacher told us to-day
that we ought to know about them"
THE HANGING GARDENS.
"Well, one of the ancient wonders
was the Hanging Gardens at Babylon"
"Did they hang in the air like the
Brooklyn Bridge?" inquired Irwin.
"Oh, no; they were connected with
the royal palace, and were about four
hundred feet square at the bottom,
being supported on several tiers of
open arches, built one over the other,
and the top, which was about seventy
five feet high, was covered with large
mass of earth from which grew flowers,
shrubs, and even large trees"
How did the people water the gar,
dens?" inquired Irwin.
"Ihere were fountains and large reser-
yoirs on the top, supplied by the river
Euphrates. This river ran through the
city of Babylon, and the two portions
were connected by a strong bridge.
The high gat and broad walls are
mentioned in the Bible, and the walls
were noted for their height, thickness
and strength.
THE PHARoS.
"What We another of the wonders,
grandpa ("
"Wcll, Tie Iharos at Alexandria was
the first l snt- bearing tower that we
have any record of. 1t was built of
white stone, and stood upon craggy
rock on the island of Pharos, near
Alexandria, in Egypt. 1t was three
hundred feet high, and its light could
be seen for many miles. Josephus
states that its 'beaming summit might
be seen for three hundred stadia, or
forty English miles"
"Who built the haros?"
1T was twelve years in building.
Sostratus was the artisan, and he i'm
mortalizcd his name by inscribing it
upon the Iharos: but it was erected
under the reign of Ptolemy Philadel-
plus, b. G. 332, the same king who
commanded the Septuagint of the Old
Testament to be undertaken in the Hell
lenic version. The Pharos. or light
house, was Illuminated by large wood
fires. Peforo this time mariners were
warned at night of their approach to
land by wood tres that were built ON
prominent headlanis."
TEE STATUE OF JUPITER.
"Well, grandpa, what was tho next
IF the wonders?"
"The Olympian Zeus, or the colossal
BOT Of Inn OF nl,
was the last great work of Phitlias. 1t
vas seated statute made of ivory and
gold, and, including the throne, was
fifty feet in height. Its temple was
built ON the model of the Parthenon at
Athens. Jupiter was considered the
king and father of the gods, and sup
posed to have universal power in the
earth and air. He gave the rain, the
thunder, and the lightning, and the
storm and the calm were sup osed to
be under his control. This statue was
erected between b. C. 4 - and 1872, and
in A. ID. 36l it continued to receive the
homage of Greece. Epictetus says
that 1t was considered q misfortune for
any one to die without having seen this
masterpiece of Phidias."
"The workshop of Jupiter was uni
versal, though his name was varied with
the country that sacrificed to him. You
perhaps remember that when Paul
went to Lystra he found temple of
Jupiter before the city. Jupiter was
generally represented as seated On q
throne holding thunderbolts in one
raised hand, scepter in the other,
with an eagle at his feet
TEMPLE OF DIANA AT EPHEHUs.
Irwin, do you remember that when
Paul was at Ephesus riot was created
by Demetrius among the craftsmen ?"
Yes, grandpa, he was afraid the
people woull believe Pauls words, and
then his trade of making silver shrines
would be gone"
And what did they cry?"
"The mob cried, Great is Diana OF
the Ephesians ="
"Yes, the temple OF Diana was built
at the common charge of all the Ash
attic states. II Was 425 feet long, 225
feet broad, and was supported by l27
columns of Persian marble; each col
nmn was GO feet high. and each
furnished by different king. This
temple was burned on the night oil
Alexander's nativity, aud was then re-
built. Diana was believed to have
fallen down from heaven, and the pub
lie games We're connected with hel
worship. Especially was the month OF
May sacred to her, and large manu-
factory grew up at Ephesus of portable
Bhrines Of Diana, which were sold tc
strangers and carried with them, OF
journeys, or set up to worship in THEN
| homes"
"You have now told me about !'ul
Of the wonders, grandpa. and if yor
are not too tired, 1 would like to heal
| about the rest of them"
THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES.
IL am only too glad to see you inter
ested in your studies. and will speak o
the Colossus of Rhodes. This was ,
gigantic brass statue of Apollo, or tn,
| sun-god. 1t rested on moles on eaci
side of the beautiful harbor of Rhodes
and vessels passed between its bra ell
| legs. 1t was over one hundred feet il
height, and there were winding stair
by which it was assembled. The statu,
held in one hand light for the direc
ton of mariners, and it was completed